Humphrey Kelleher
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Amhlaoibh O Céileachair | ||
| Sport | Gaelic football | ||
| Position | Full-back | ||
| Born | 1946 Millstreet, County Cork | ||
| Died | 2005 (aged 58–59) | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
| 1960s–1980s | Millstreet | ||
| Club Titles | |||
| Cork titles | 0 | ||
| Inter-county(ies) | |||
| Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
| 1971–1975 | Cork | 14 (0–00) | |
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Munster titles | 3 | ||
| All Irelands | 1 | ||
| NFL | 0 | ||
| All Stars | 0 | ||
Humphrey Kelleher (1946–2005) was an Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Millstreet and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1971 until 1975.
Playing career
Club
Kelleher played his club football with his local club in Millstreet, however, he enjoyed little success.
Inter-county
By the late 1960s Kelleher had joined the Cork senior team, however, the team was forced to play second fiddle to Kerry. In 1971 Cork were back. A 0–25 to 0–14 trouncing of back-to-back All-Ireland champions Kerry gave Kelleher a coveted Munster winners' medal.[1] Cork, however, were later defeated by eventual champions Offaly in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Two years later Kelleher secured his second Munster winners' medal. The 5–12 to 1–15 defeat of arch-rivals Kerry showed the traditional football powers that Cork were coming. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against Galway. Teenager Jimmy Barry-Murphy scored the first of his two goals after just two minutes before scored a third for Cork after switching to left wing-forward. At full-time Cork were the champions by 3–17 to 2–13. This victory gave Kelleher a coveted All-Ireland winners' medal.[2]
Cork continued their provincial dominance in 1974. A 1–11 to 0–7 defeat of Kerry gave Kelleher a third Munster winners' medal. This victory resulted in Cork being installed as the favourites to retain their All-Ireland title. An air of overconfidence crept into the side as Kelleher's side were defeated by eventual champions Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Inter-provincial
Kelleher also lined out with Munster in the inter-provincial football competition. He first played with his province in 1974, however, success was slow in coming. In 1975 Kelleher was a key member of the team again and he captured a coveted Railway Cup winners' medal following a high-scoring victory over Ulster. Kelleher was a non-playing substitute when Munster retained the title in 1976.[3]
Death
Humphrey Kelleher died on September 21, 2005, after a short illness.[4]
References
- ↑ "Senior Football - Munster Final Winning Teams (1887-2007)". Munster GAA. Retrieved 2009-03-25.
- ↑ "Cork Hurling Profile". www.hoganstand.com. Retrieved 2009-03-25.
- ↑ "Munster Railway Cup Football Teams". Munster GAA. Retrieved 2009-03-25.
- ↑ "Cork GAA laments Kelleher passing". www.hoganstand.com. 2005-09-25. Retrieved 2009-03-25.
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